Former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin is clearly frustrated by the statutory declaration and by the failed coup attempt, the press secretary to the prime minister, Tengku Sarifuddin Tengku Ahmad, said today.

Muhyiddin's dream to become the next prime minister has also been destroyed, and his political career has ended in disgrace‎, Tengku Sariffuddin said in a statement.

"Muhyiddin should now do the right thing for the country, the people, and the party that gave him so much - by fading away quietly," he added.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin challenged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to sue him if the alleged accusation of corruption involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was false.

"Using 1MDB as an excuse, their vicious onslaught of smears and lies was not motivated by the interests of the country and the people, but solely to achieve their own selfish political ambitions," Tengku Sarifuddin said.

He said Muhyiddin’s removal from the cabinet and Umno was his own doing.

"He saw a route to the top via a coup masterminded by Tun Mahathir (Dr Mahathir Mohamad). It was a power grab against the principles of democracy, and it failed," he added.

In addition, he said, the chance revelation of a statutory declaration in court showed that Muhyiddin had committed infidelity for years with another man’s wife.

"His decision not to sue, which is what he always challenges others to do, shows that the allegations are true," Tengku Sarifuddin added.

- Bernama